Reading:
Only
let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that
whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your
affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by
your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but
to you of salvation, and that of God.
For
unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on
him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Having
the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to
be
in me. (chapter
two)
If there
be
therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Fulfil
ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind.
Let
nothing be
done
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
other better than themselves.
Look
not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of
others.
Commentary:
It is not in our nature to be of one mind and one faith,
one doctrine in fellowship with one another. The Gospel of Christ
however does create such unity of spirit. Thus we must "strive
together" for the pure doctrine of the Gospel, endeavoring to
keep the unity of faith in the bond of the Spirit. Where and when
faith rests upon the Gospel of Christ, His justification of us (His
children) causes us not to be terrified by the persecution of
adversaries. When they persecute us so that we suffer, yet they see
we are not afraid of suffering for Christ, such is to them a token of
their own damnation, and it also testifies we are the true children
of God who inherit heaven. "For unto you it is given in the
behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for
his sake." Hence we are to constantly strive and work together
in the love of Christ, "Having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind." By faith and such common love we
see not to fight with one another in a fleshly way which is only for
ones own glory, "but
in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
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